Three Things I Made Sure I Did When I Arrived Home

It's been about six months since Michelle and I arrived home after serving in the Peace Corps in South Africa. Being aware of reverse culture shock and the U-W curve and having even helped students work through the transition of returning home after having studied abroad, I still find I am subject to the difficulties of the transition: the high's and low's, feelings of happiness, excitement, sadness and loss, and wondering about how I currently live aligns (or doesn't) with my values. This post is the beginning of an(other) attempt at trying to process through these thoughts and feelings. It's inspired by the After Abroad Blog Challenge. You could follow the link at the bottom of this post to read more about it.

This post's challenge: What are the first things you made sure to do when you arrived home?

Hugged My Family.

I am incredibly grateful that I got to see my parents while I was abroad.  They came to visit for a couple of weeks during my second year there.  Despite having just seen them, though, I still missed them greatly.  I missed my siblings immensely too, and I didn't see them the entire time I was gone.  We have always been a close family, so it was hard to be separated by so many miles.  I'm also grateful for the technology that allowed us to stay connected, but there's nothing like being in the presence of the people who are closest to your heart.

The Fam at Lake Erie

Phoned My South African Family

Before leaving South Africa, I participated in the incoming Education group's training by facilitating a few sessions.  This meant I left my village a couple of weeks prior to actually leaving the country, so there was a delay in the telling my South African family (host family and teachers) I was back in the US.  They were aware of my plans; however, it still felt a little strange to say my goodbyes and still remain in the country a little longer.  When I got back to the US, I didn't have access to a cell phone for a few days, which meant I couldn't contact my South African family right away.  When I did get a phone, though, the first thing I did with it was to contact them to let them know I was okay.  They were relieved to hear I was safe and expressed how they already missed me.  I had already missed them too.

The Host Family

Laughed with Friends.

As part of our homecoming, Michelle and I planned another epic road trip like the one we had done before leaving for the Peace Corps; except this time, we were going to drive it in reverse from Texas and Louisiana, up to Ohio, and across to Washington.  Along the way, we made plans to stop and see our friends.  It felt so, so great to see them.  It was also kind of funny in that in the two years in between visits it donned on us that anything could have happened because in the same amount of time we might have gone without seeing each other due to the fact that we're all spread throughout the country.  But then reality sunk in and that there were changes: some of us had been abroad, some of us had children, some of us changed jobs, and all of us experienced life changes.  It was wonderful reconnecting with our friends and reminding ourselves that love extends beyond family.

Old Friends

New Friends

*This post is part of BloggingAbroad.org's Re-Entry Blog Challenge.

It's Weird to Be Back...

Joe and I officially became Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) on August 24, 2016...

Our "official" COS (close of service) photo...

...and our super-fun Peace Corps family photos.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We left South Africa and embarked on a beautiful, tearful, magical three week road trip where we were blessed to visit our phenomenally supportive, loving (and patient) family and friends.

We were reminded of all of the "life" we have missed by being far away: little children who are now giants compared to their former selves, babies that never existed before we left, the absence of loved ones who have passed on, the day-to-day living of lives.

It also took me nearly two weeks to fully grasp that, despite it feeling like an awesome vacation, I was not going to be returning to my village, my learners, my host family, my coworkers, or any aspect of the life I left behind in South Africa.

Thus, I ended the road trip feeling very disoriented and lost. My head was spinning with all that was missed, and all that I lived that my family had missed, and all that I would never live again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And finally, we arrived in Seattle. I had lunch with old friends. I visited my old colleagues and picked up right where we left off. It felt like, aside from some new faces and a GIANT new building, the two year gap never happened.

At first that felt beautiful, and then it felt...weird

It was weird to have it feel weird... so I wanted to understand why. And this is what I have come up with so far...

I do not know how I have changed, yet. These two years have been so important and meaningful to me that to even the mildest unacknowledgment (making that a word...) of it feels like a dishonor to all that was lived and all that was shared (between us and our host community), discovered, and sacrificed (by ourselves and our supporters) to make it happen. I haven't taken the time or the space to reflect on all of this and make a new meaning of the world around me, yet. Until then, I feel this weird disconnect between my soul and my body. I don't know the new "me" that I am, and that is terrifying.

So, I feel scattered and unconfident and speak rambling gibberish as my frantic brain works overtime to build connections and pathways around new paradigms and ways of being.

I am working to reflect in stages through my own guiding prompts. And there is one thing that I know after my first journaling session...
i am held.

My first reflection product.

I am held by a community who loves me and will churn out housing options, job postings, and messages of hope when I am feeling down. I am held by the higher powers of the universe (god, goddess, ancestors, whatever label one might use). I am held by my partner who is there for me, ride or die. I am held.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you for holding me.

A Mother's Reflection on Visiting her Peace Corps Volunteer

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 2016!

A month ago, M's parents came to visit us in South Africa and we would like to honour PCV moms on this Mother's Day by sharing about the trip, in my mom's own words... Q & A style.

My parents and I in Simon's Town. Joe was teasing us for being matchy-matchy.

What is the most cherished moment from your time in South Africa?

My most cherished part of the trip were my interactions with South Africans. It started with learning Cape Town history by Sean at Verona Lodge, interacting with Yasmina at the Cape Malay cooking class hosted in her own home and learning Bo Kaap history.

Mom learning how to make roti, a type of flatbread that is popular in many Indian and Malay dishes

Michelle learning to make roti.

Joe and Daddy learning to make samosa (or samoosas).

Then came Mama Mbatha [NB: J&M's host mom during training]. I adore this woman. She loves Joe and Michelle with her whole heart. She took what life dealt her with smile. Our discussion about rondevels, ancestors and talking to ancestors over tea keeps playing in my mind. Playing cards with the boys in both families [J&M's current host family and Mama's family] is a big highlight. Their current host family, especially their host brother and gogo [grandmother], were open and we found info on some of the modern Zulu culture.

Playing cards with our host brothers

J & M's Host Family

The school visits were such eye openers. These kids work hard. They have so much dedication in their hearts to your library, to their traditions and dances, and to the importance of education. These interactions made the trip.

Momma reading to learners at recess

Some of my Library Student Assistants

I also really enjoyed the Catholic church that we attended. The songs were so beautiful. Such harmony. We were not on vacation, but rather a cultural journey.

The Catholic Church

But the most cherished moment has to be the time with Mama. We were there for about 24 hrs but she was so open to us and to see the relationship she had with Joe and Michelle, the love and returned love and respect. It was obvious to us that they have made a difference in SA!!

Momma and Mama

What surprised you while you were here?

Two things surprised me.

1. The crime/ warnings of crime and the barbed wire on everything. The people are such polite and friendly people- Why do they accept crime being so prevalent?

2. The "markets" visits. People, including gogos, basically selling everything on the sidewalks or men saying "I will watch your car" to earn a living. Also their creativity with beading, weaving, metal working, tin can art and wood art.

What was the hardest moment when you were here? (Besides saying goodbye...)

The hardest moment was wanting to do more and not be able to do it at that time. I wanted to buy a lot and 200 blocks to start up Mama Maseko's crèche or bring the FEMA trailers there so the schools will have fewer kids per class. We wished to help these schools in some way, like in their libraries. For some reason I thought the books would magically unpack themselves. They are still going through the slow process of unpacking, labelling, and shelving the donated books.

Daddy telling stories to Joe's Grade 6 learners

Momma and Daddy with my Grade 7 learners

Mama Maseko teaching Grade R

What is one thing that you want Americans to know about South Africa?

Americans should know that South Africa is a beautiful and friendly country. Their style of singing  sets your blood wanting to dance within. The country is so green, even though the soil is sandy and it is during a drought. But this greenness doesn't mean the people have water. Mostly I want them to know that the people in South Africa are friendly and resilient. Their struggles with apartheid have given them voice and strength. Despite poverty and unemployment, they are trying to make a living (as evident in their beading and art from even tin cans).

Beautiful South Africa: Cape Town, Western Cape

Beautiful South Africa: Port Shepstone, KwaZulu Natal

Beautiful South Africa: Howick, KwaZulu Natal

Mama Maseko: My South African Hero

There are times in your life when you meet someone who brings you such faith and hope for humanity, the giddy joys of possibility, and the inspiration to do more. In my South African life, that woman is Ma’am (or often, Mama) Maseko.

Ma'am Maseko and I at Heritage Day 2014

I first knew that Ma’am Maseko was someone special when, while making conversation with educators at my school, more than one of them cited her as their inspiration for teaching. One said, “I knew I wanted to do something good with my life, but I didn’t know where to start. Ma’am Maseko convinced me to start volunteering at the school crèche to gain experience; I loved it so much I just kept teaching.” I made a mental note to get to know this influential person better.

Over the last year and a half, I continue to be inspired by this loving, thoughtful, and passionate friend and colleague. I wanted to honour her work and our friendship by telling a bit more about her and her story with you all.

To start, I want to provide just a snapshot of her work, both at home and in the community:

• Full-time teacher in grade R (kindergarten) at my school
• Works 3 Saturdays each month as a trainer for Universal College Outcomes (UCO); trainees are current and future teachers through the Early Childhood Development certification program.
• Diligently works to secure donations, sponsorship, and funding for her own community crèche.
• Occasional Sunday school teacher
• Occasional guest speaker at education-related events
• Mother of two teenage girls, one of whom should be off to college this year
• In her little remaining time, she volunteers to support and cook for family and church functions, does beadwork and other crafts (usually items for use in her classroom or in her future crèche), connecting with neighbours, reading, and listening to the radio.

Ma'am Maseko and all her grade R babies!

Mama Maseko: In Her Own Words

Michelle (Me): How old were you when you realized that you had a passion for working with children?

Maseko: In high school, I started teaching Sunday school in my church (African Evangelical Church). I would teach them songs, bible verses, and dramas so that every Sunday they could perform something for the parents during the church service. When I finished my matric (high school), I went to my nearest crèche and asked to volunteer. From 1998 they gave me a chance to work full-time with the small children.

Michelle: In your opinion, what are the most important aspects of Early Childhood Development?

Maseko: It is so important for children to go to school early to learn. A school or crèche must be suited to provide for the whole development of the child: intellectual, moral or ethical, physical, and spiritual development. We are teaching them not only the foundation for maths and languages, but also how to live their lives in a good way.

Michelle: Is that why it is your dream to open your own crèche?

Maseko: Yes. You must start when they are young to learn these things. Some people think that we are just playing in the crèche or in grade R, but even our games have a teaching purpose. The other reason why a crèche is important is to help the parents. In our area we are facing this challenge of teenage pregnancy. A 14-year old girl may be at home having a child, when she herself is also a learner in high school. As we are in a rural area, there are fewer job opportunities. So these young parents need to have an option for child care so that they can stay in school. Some of our parents are used to going to the fields and work from morning to sunset, while carrying babies on their backs. These early years are the times in the child’s life to try and help all children, especially those who are neglected due to the challenges to take care of them, by opening a place where they can be safe, secure and fed accordingly. The other reason why I want to open my own crèche is because I stay in a place where the nearest crèche is more than 3-4 km away. Most of our parents don’t have their own transportation, so if the crèche is too far, the children will not go.

Michelle: If money were no object, what would your ideal crèche look like?

Maseko: (With a huge smile) My ideal crèche would have two classrooms, one for younger children and one for the older children. It would have a kitchen area with cooking supplies and utensils, two toilets, a bathing room, and a sick bay. It would be good to have a small jungle gym outside with tires, balls, and skipping ropes for playing.

Michelle: How many learners and educators would you have?

Maseko: I think with this size it would be good to have up to 25 children. The educators must be able to teach the children well and take care of them so they are safe. When we split the children by their ages, we would need one educator for the older kids and two educators for the younger ones. We would also need a cook and a gardener or security guard. I have two educators who could come and at least 15 children already interested. The problem is that we have not been able to find or build the space. I started a crèche last year just using the carport of a neighbor’s house, but there were some issues with making the space available so we have since closed down. I still want to find some sponsorship to open a crèche permanently.

Michelle: Tell me more about the courses you teach on Saturdays.

Maseko: I work through UCO (Universal College Outcomes) to teach certification courses for Early Childhood Development (ECD). I mostly teach courses for ECD Practitioner Assistants (level 1) and ECD Practitioners seeking certification (level 4). I show them strategies for teaching the whole child through activities and play. We discuss what we must do to create a safe space for children to learn and how to encourage them to be successful. It can be difficult to get access to these courses in the rural area, so having a local facilitator is really important for training our teachers in the area. 

Ma'am Maseko, her co-teacher Ma'am Mcineka, and I dressed as learners for Hello Summer 2015

Who is Maseko to me?

Ma’am Maseko is my light and joy. Her excitement and love for her work is contagious. She and her co-teacher, Mrs. Mcineka, have created an exciting student-centered environment that is creative and resourceful. They have made caterpillars and crocodiles out of egg cartons. They have collected hundreds of bottle caps to teach counting and sorting. They have built bookshelves from found materials and empty milk cartons. They use group work and songs to teach teamwork, confidence, and language skills. In short, they are the type of educator that most educators aspire to be.

Even though she is exceptionally qualified and talented, Maseko is always eager to learn and grow. When I said I could help with computer lessons, she was the first person to show up saying, “I want to make an email address and I want to learn to type faster. But I don’t want you to do it for me, I want to learn.” When I started teaching remedial lessons, she was the first person to ask to sit in and observe a lesson.

When the children laughed at me because I mispronounced their names, she hugged me and wiped my tears. When I am excited about a new project or idea, she is the first person I want to tell. We talk excitedly about learning styles, learner confidence, and self-esteem. I taught her the word “nerd,” and now she laughs and says we are nerds together. Her friends and mentor describe her as dedicated, compassionate, a woman who truly understands the importance of our children and values her community. If I were her student, I would love coming to school every day! I love her dearly, and I thought you all should know her.

_______________________________________

Help her out:

Our Peace Corps grant options are limited when it comes to building buildings. This hurts my heart because if I would put my faith  any educator/school administrator, it would be her. She has solicited donations from local businesses but have not been able to yield the fundamental construction items. She has asked for help in identifying other grant options to which she may apply.

I would love you forever if you could research just one grant resource that might be willing to support a small, educationally focused construction project. Comment or email me with details and we will check it out!

Michelle: Why Am I Abroad?

You may remember from my 18-month reflection (see here) that my New Years Resolution, if you will, is to blog more consistently, more raw-ly, and to get out of my head. In this vein, Joe and I have signed up for a 6-week blogging challenge!

The challenge, called Blogging Abroad, is hosted by a few RPCVs who have committed their life's work to ethical service and cultural exchange (they are also a J&M couple, and yeah, they're pretty fab). They will give us challenge prompts twice per week for six weeks. We will do our best to put pen to paper (fingers to keys) and publish!

The first prompt is the “Why” for me being here in South Africa. Why did I choose to live abroad? Why did I choose the Peace Corps? To get to this answer, I have to go through a few “Whats” and one big “How.” Let’s travel back in time...

Three “What” Goals

Ever since I was a child I have touted only three life goals:

• Goal #1: To become trilingual
• Goal #2: Live abroad (again)
• Goal #3: Learn to play the violin/fiddle

Simple. Attainable. Includes travel, experience, culture, and skills. A life well-lived, if you ask me. These “what” goals came easily and early for me.

The Year: 1990

My family was living in a little German town called Nieder-Roden. This town was unique because it was in a sort of cultural crossroads between the local German culture and the significant population of foreigners.  And this is the year that I, Shelly Harper, would start kindergarten—at a real, German kindergarten! I was immersed in this culture from morning arrivals, through snack time, naptime, and classes. I was amazed by the ways in which I was the same as my classmates and especially fascinated by my differences.

My fifth birthday, with the birthday crown they gave me at kindergarten that day. Rocked it.

One major difference was that none of my teachers spoke any English. In fact, my main interpreter during school was a fellow kindergartener who spoke FOUR languages. FOUR! She spoke German out of necessity (she had lived there almost all of her life), but she spoke two additional languages in the home (her live-in grandmother spoke one and her mother spoke another), and was learning English with her father because he needed it for work. She immediately became the coolest person that I knew. In my mind, she could go anywhere, to any country that ever existed and find people to talk to. That was freedom. That was classy. So, at 5 years old I set my first life goal.

• Goal #1: Become trilingual (because she had a whole five-year head start on me, so I could never possibly catch up to speaking four languages! Three would suffice.)

The Year: 1995

My first true obsession

My family had just moved back stateside after a few additional years in Europe. My adjustment to US culture was less than graceful, shall I say. On top of my classic awkwardness, I started to realize that I saw the world differently than many other kids. Things that I was obsessed with they had never heard of before, like stories about the Holocaust or the musical Les Misérables. My family celebrated different holidays extracted from varying cultures, such as Mardi Gras from our native Louisiana to the Feast of St. Nicholas from Germany. We were different; I was different.

This came as a shock to me. I had been a foreigner for most of my living memory. Now, in the one country where I felt I should fit in, I felt more foreign than ever.

My favourite book growing up.
It is part of a series by Carol Matas about the Holocaust

I thought about this a lot. I took an inventory of all of the things that made me feel different and I realized something—these were the things that I got most excited about in life. I LOVED all of this weird hodge-podge mix of European history and culture that I had absorbed from my time overseas. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

My next realization was at how much more of this stuff there is to learn out there. There are so many countries! With so many cultures! And so much history! I would learn what I could about the US while I was here…but you just look out, world! Because one day…

• Goal #2: Live abroad again

The Year(s): 2002/2004

I had hung out with band nerds in high school and college, loved the violin (became a goal in 2002), and grew to enjoy Cajun music (added the fiddle in 2004). Hence, Goal #3. But, this is unrelated to the story at hand. Moving on.

One Big “How”

So by age 19, I had my three life goals pretty set. Obviously I had other, practical goals like, finish university, get a job, be happy, etc. I just figured that those are the kinds of things that happen along the way in life. You can stumble into a job and wake up 20 years later having had a “career” there.  So I focused on the goals that would require more diligence to seek out. I would have to be intentional. I would have to examine how I wanted to live my life.

As these things go, this “How” question had to be supported by my values—things like: community, travel, appreciation of cultures, helping others, courage, and love.

It turns out my one big “How” that encompasses all of this also came from my childhood, specifically a mantra of my former Girl Scout leader (and mom):

• The Big How of Living: Leave the world better than you found it.

It’s that simple. Make someone smile on a crummy day. Teach someone something they didn’t know. Connect more deeply with those around you. Contribute. Understand another person better than you did before. Live in a way that uplifts those around you, wherever you are.

Wisdom of Children

Grown-ups always ask children what they want to be when they grow up. By the time I was 10, I was already knew this much:

• I wanted to live abroad
• I wanted to learn another language (or two)
• I wanted to live in a way that uplifts people
• I wanted to do all of these things at once…so I wanted to be a teacher and join the Peace Corps.

The rest is history. I became a slightly different kind of educator after college, but still was teaching nonetheless. And I bided my time until the time was right to join the Peace Corps.

I guess the real question is… now that I’ve completed half of my life goals list, what do I do next?

________________________________________

Post Your Thoughts!

• What is one life goal that I should add to my list?

________________________________________

Nicole & Eddie Visit the HK’s!

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, look for tomorrow, rest this afternoon.”

~ Charlie Brown (written on the menu board at Buccaneers Backpackers in Cintsa, Eastern Cape) 

Our rendition of an "awkward family photo." How did we do?!

Michelle and I were blessed to have Nicole and Eddie Minkoff visit us during the July break from school.  While we were together, we were able to go on a road trip along the Wild Coast.  What a beautiful place!  There was a lot to see and do; especially since we enjoy the outdoors.  And the best part – we got to enjoy it with two of our best friends from back home.

Learn from Yesterday: Addo Elephant Park

African elephants at Addo Elephant Park

We definitely found a strong connection to “yesterday” at Addo Elephant Park. Our guide taught us much about the history and significance of the many animals native to South Africa. We learned why humans are unable to domesticate zebras, the differences between African elephants and Asian elephants, and the complicated history between these beautiful creatures and humans. We learned that all of the reserves and parks refuse to release their population counts for black rhinos because they do not want to attract the attention of poachers. We learned that if you are worried about meeting a lion, hang out with a zebra—they can spot a lion at a great distance. We learned that anything, truly anything, could be disguised as a warthog (and vice versa).

“Look at that elephant… Never mind, it’s a warthog.” 

“Was that an eland or a hartebeest?” “Neither, just a warthog.” 

“Is that a lion?!” “Nope. Warthog.”

Warthog: The chameleon of mammals...

Most importantly, we learned about the interconnected history between South African tribes and the wildlife. You can imagine what this land would be like if the animals hadn’t been rounded up behind fences (or, in many cases, such as the lions in Cape Town, killed off by settlers). You gain a sense of reverence for who/what this territory truly belongs to.

Zebra at Addo Elephant Park

Live for Today: Cave Hunting & Cliff Diving

Our first full rest day was in Coffee Bay. We took advantage of this beautiful locale by taking a day hike to find some locally renowned coastal caves. The owner at the backpackers that gave us instructions said the hike should take about 45 minutes, will “follow the beach”, and would pass a deep lake/inlet along the way.  

Our trusty guide dog

The first 10 minutes of the hike followed the beachfront. This is where we met our trusty guide…dog.  At first, we thought the dog was just following us because it wanted food.  But the farther we walked, the more we realised the dog knew where he was going.  The dog stayed with us through the village, wading across the inlet, around the rocks, up a second hill, through some guy’s yard, down a sketchy goat path, through a coastal tunnel and to the hidden cave! At each turn, the dog was there waiting for us as if to say, “Come on guys – this way!”

Posing for a photo between the caves

 On the journey back, Michelle and I decided to linger a little longer at this deep inlet lake. We had been told that there were some awesome cliff diving spots along the edge. The diving spot was a bit like the three bears—there was a baby step (about 1 metres/3.3 feet), a medium step (about 3 metres/9.8 feet), and a giant step (about 6 metres/19.7 feet). Joe had bravely tested the depth from the baby and medium steps, when a group of small children happened upon the swimming spot. One fearless child, who looked to be about 8 years old, climbed straight up to the top and dove right off. We couldn’t believe his tenacity.  Seeing that he was unharmed, our confidence grew.  Michelle followed suit and went to the highest step.  With the help of a countdown from the kids, she leapt into the air holding her nose.  Using the kids and their countdown, I went next.  It felt like I was falling for an eternity, but just as quickly as I left the step I came splashing down into the water.  It was exhilarating!

Joe's leap

Michelle's leap

Rest this Afternoon: Change of Plans at Hole in the Wall

Sounds easy enough...

We planned a seemingly reasonable 13 km hike from Coffee Bay to Lubanzi Beach. We embarked on the journey bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and were not disappointed. The view was breathtaking! The rough fishing trails meandered up and down the green hills along the gorgeous coastline….and up…and down…and up…and through a village…and down. Perhaps we should have learned from our cave hunting experience that any guidebook that says “…and then just follow the coast” is lying to you.

Stunning view from the fisherman's trail

En route to Hole in the Wall

After about 5 hours on trail, we arrived at the famous Hole in the Wall; a natural phenomenon caused by water erosion over time. We started out on our final leg of the hike and realised that we may have bit off more than we could chew. Michelle’s new boots weren’t cooperating…and who could leave this gorgeous view…

Nature is cool!

After re-grouping, we decided to forgo the extension of our trek, rent a room at the local backpackers, and splurge for milkshakes and dinner. The rest was welcomed and we felt properly spoiled.

Note: In our decision to rest, we had to cancel our reservation at the Mbolompo Xhosa Homestay near Lubanzi Beach. This was a true disappointment and we are sorry that we did not get to meet the lovely host family. If you find yourself in the area, consider staying with a local family and breaking bread together.

The view looking over the town of Hole in the Wall

Look for Tomorrow: Thekwini (Durban) and Beyond…

Our last stop was Thekwini (the isiZulu name for Durban). It was our first chance to show old friends around some of the places we have come to love in South Africa. We took Nicole and Eddie to our favourite restaurants, felt like old pros navigating the complicated city taxi system, and enjoyed a lovely walk along the oceanfront. We reflected on the many highlights of our journey together. We have travelled with Nicole many times before, but this was our first time to embark with Eddie as a part of the crew. We are so very glad that he did.  It was such a joy to get to know him better and an honour to witness their joy and love for each other.

Awwwww! Aren't they so adorable?!

There’s nothing like being able to pick up again with old friends and, moreso, being able to create new memories. We are so grateful that Nicole and Eddie ventured all the way to South Africa to share this with us!

Nicole, Eddie, and Joe in Durban

Community Assets (Part 2): The Strength of Our Community

[Note: The context for why highlighting my community’s assets is so important to me was provided in a previous post. You can visit that post by clicking here.]

Many times when we as PCVs talk about our host communities in the Peace Corps, we share about the community’s challenges and deficits. Every community faces challenges. We are missing the real beauty if this is the only story we tell. Today, I want to brag on just a few of the great things that my community has going for it. This will be a bit difficult as we cannot name the organizations specifically (as Peace Corps discourages us from posting information that suggests our specific location), but I hope this hindrance isn’t too much of a distraction.

Educational Attainment and Support

The winners of one of our many educational competitions hosted by these organizations.

There is a local foundation that provides support for students in understanding the college application process. They also host awards banquets to honour high-achieving students and best-performing high schools. There is a district-sponsored center for educational resources, including educator training and a small library. A few local schools host adult programs at night for those who have not yet finished high school. Our host siblings just graduated from a local computer skills course that will set them apart from many of their peers, who have likely never had access to a computer. We also have a public library within a 45-minute walk.

Public Hospital and Clinics
The hospital provides healthcare to the community, including surgery, circumcision, HIV/AIDS treatment, childbirth, to more routine illnesses, like the flu. The hospital works in collaboration with both a local clinic and a mobile clinic to deliver services that are more accessible to the community. On certain occasions, they also come into the school to provide education and vaccinations.

The hospital serves as a major employer for the area, providing a steady wage to many families. More of our learners are likely to know a doctor or nurse personally than most youth in other rural communities in KZN. Therefore, a larger number of them aspire to be health practitioners when they grow up. It gives them hope and makes this field feel more accessible. The hospital also provides a place for building community gathering and organizing. For example, there is a hospital choir, workers’ union, and a variety of social groups that stem from hospital employees.

HIV/AIDS Nonprofit Organizations
Our community has a handful of different organizations that support the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS in our community. Many of these collaborate with the local clinics and hospital to augment their programs and increase their outreach.

Environmental Conservation and Awareness

The organizations encourage and train schools to plant gardens. The produce is used in school lunches and sold to raise school funds.

This organization does great work in managing recreational and conservation activities in our local natural areas. It also provides incentives, guidelines, and curricular connections for local teachers to improve the environmental education provided in the schools. They have sent representatives to our school events on multiple occasions to talk about topics, such as: the impact of poaching on the rhino population and the impact of gum trees on water access. Finally, they host annual volunteer days to engage the students more actively in conservation and clean up work.

Community Training and Skills Development
This organization provides everything from water sanitation support and education in local schools to small business development and ownership courses for the community. They have started a new program for unemployed young adults that teaches them basic job skills and assists them to identify and work towards their goals.

Thriving Churches
I cannot remember how many times I’ve heard an educator talk about attending a church conference, a women’s group, or prayer meeting. Our local churches provide a network of support and belonging. Many also host workshops where locals can learn new skills to advance their personal and professional goals. For example, Joe's school is partnering with a local church to host an intern. The intern assists with administrative tasks at the school and gains real-world experience to augment her resume.

A Strong Tourism Industry
We are blessed to live in a place where the natural environment is just as beautiful as its people. Tourists come from all over the globe to visit our little corner of South Africa. This continuous flow boosts our local economy and provides jobs for local tour guides, lodge owners, service industry folks, and artisans.

A Strong Connection to Family, Even Extended Family

Our extended family!

This may be less of a tangible “resource” and more of a cultural asset. We have also highlighted this value in previous blog posts (here and here). However, this is such a strong safety net and support in our community that I would be remiss not to mention it here.

And many more…
This list is inherently incomplete because it would be impossible to highlight all of our wonderful assets in one short list. The message I hope to send to the world is this:

Our community is profoundly beautiful and is filled with strong, passionate individuals who want to build a better future. I am regularly inspired and humbles by the dedication and sense of communal responsibility that I witness in my village. 

Thank you for letting me share this with you.
______________________
We'd love to hear from you!
As we share more about our life and host community, what questions would you like us to answer for you? What would you like us to write more about?